Charter School Changes.

Added new authority for the Review Board to contract for and employ legal counsel, including private counsel, to provide litigation services without needing permission from state statutes G.S. 114-2.3 or G.S. 147-17.

Added Section 6 requiring the Review Board to mandate improvement plans for low-performing or continually low-performing charter schools, exempting them from certain state requirements under G.S. 115C-105.27.

Modified Section 2 to restrict charter school relocation - schools can no longer relocate within a 10-mile radius to a different local school administrative unit, requiring the new location to remain in the same local school administrative unit as the original approved location.

Modified Section 5 to clarify that teacher evaluation standards must align with North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards and the North Carolina Teacher Evaluation Process, or meet local school administrative unit requirements.

Removed committee substitute adoption dates and sponsor information that were present in the earlier version but not needed in the final ratified bill.

Removed all provisions establishing criminal offenses for possessing explosive or incendiary devices, which were the original purpose of the bill.

Added requirements for the State Board of Education to allocate funds to charter schools based on per-pupil allocations from local school administrative units.

Added provisions requiring charter schools to operate under written charters approved by the Review Board with specific terms and conditions.

Added exemption requiring charter schools not to list class rank on student transcripts or records.

Added provisions allowing charter schools to develop their own teacher evaluation systems with standards similar to state teaching standards.

Added provisions allowing charter schools to relocate, expand, or establish satellite campuses within a 10-mile radius without prior Review Board approval.

Modified oversight structure by establishing a North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board with powers to recommend and approve rules, conduct hearings, and employ legal counsel.

Added technical provisions regarding the Executive Director of the Office of Charter Schools reporting to the Superintendent Review Board.

The original single possession offense was replaced with multiple specific offenses: Class D felony for injuring another person, Class G felony for damaging property, Class E felony for damaging religious buildings, and Class E felony for damaging government buildings.

New provisions specifically address damage to religious buildings (churches, synagogues, mosques, etc.) and government buildings as separate offenses with enhanced penalties.

The original provision that made possession with probable intent to use a crime was removed and replaced with a separate possession offense requiring specific intent to violate the section.

The bill now clearly distinguishes between different levels of harm, with more severe penalties (Class D felony) for injuries to people compared to property damage (Class G felony).

Added page number '1' and updated bill identifier from 'DRS15097-ML-100' to 'S254-v-1' to reflect official Senate filing status

Added referral information specifying Rules and Operations of the Senate committee with date March 11, 2025

Removed original filing date of March 10, 2025 and removed blank referral line